“In this case, this business venture was one in which Malcolm Copeland recruited, marketed and trained these girls for sex,” Richardson said in opening statements. “The venture had one purpose, and that was to make money.”

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Two of the girls, ages 15 and 17, are largely at the center of the government's case. The girls, both runaways, surfaced as part of a joint investigation between the FBI and the San Antonio Police Department in August 2013.

Copeland and his co-defendants had “no regard for their vulnerability,” Richardson said, noting the younger one was pimped a week after turning 15.

The defendant admitted to an FBI agent that he was fully involved, prosecutors said.

Copeland's lawyer, John Economidy, downplayed his client's involvement — pointing a finger instead at the co-defendants.

Economidy acknowledged that “there was prostitution involved,” but he said Copeland denies knowing the escorts were underage.

“Listen carefully about what Malcolm Copeland knew about the age of these girls,” Economidy advised jurors.

The ring was broken up in August. In May, the feds took a rare step and charged one of the purported customers, Army Lt. Col. Raymond Valas, 41, who is in the New Hampshire National Guard and had commanded a humanitarian mission in Central America.

Valas is charged with sex trafficking of minors, for allegedly having sex with the 15-year-old while on a trip to San Antonio. He and Wright face separate trials later this year. Doak pleaded guilty earlier this year for her role.

Copeland's trial in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery could last through the end of this week.

In September, Copeland and his cousin, Joshua Louis Edwards, 22, both pleaded guilty in state court to aggravated promotion of prostitution for running a prostitution front between August and September 2012 that was registered with the city as a candle store. The business was in a shopping center that also included a magic shop, a children's hair salon and a day care.

Copeland was sentenced to five years in prison and Edwards, who fled to Costa Rica, got 10 years in prison after being caught and returned to Texas.